Used Mercedes-Benz SLK Cylinder Head

The engine code is the single most important detail for a cylinder head — it determines the exact specification far more reliably than the year or badge alone. You'll find the engine code on your V5C or by running a VIN check, and it typically appears on a sticker or plate in the engine bay. Always give this code to the breaker when requesting a quote, as two SLKs from the same year can have completely different heads depending on which engine is fitted.

The SLK R170 ran from 1996 to 2004 and the R171 from 2004 to 2011, and these are distinct generations with different engine families, so a head from an R170 is very unlikely to suit an R171. Matching the engine code between donor and recipient is essential before assuming any cross-generation swap is possible. Confirm the specific codes with the breaker against your registration before purchasing.

Yes, both fall within the R171 generation (2004–2011), but the R171 received a facelift in 2008, and there were various running production changes across the range that can affect ancillary components and mounting points even within the same generation. The engine code must match between donor and your car, and it's worth confirming with the breaker whether any mid-production changes affect the specific head you're looking at, especially if the years sit either side of a known revision. Never assume fitment purely on generation — always verify against your registration.

The R171 facelift arrived in 2008, and while the generation boundary is well established, whether the cylinder head itself changed across that facelift point depends entirely on the engine code involved. If the donor and your car share the same engine code, there is a reasonable basis for compatibility, but ancillary and mounting changes around that facelift year mean you should confirm the specifics with the breaker against your registration rather than relying on the year alone.

Trim level has no bearing on cylinder head fitment whatsoever — the head follows the engine, not the badge or specification level. What matters is that the engine codes match between the donor vehicle and yours, so a SLK200 Kompressor head from one trim grade is no different mechanically to the same engine in another trim. You may find that breakers price or describe parts by trim, but for fitment purposes you only need to worry about the engine code.

The cylinder head itself is not affected by gearbox type — it sits entirely within the engine and the gearbox configuration makes no difference to whether it will fit or seal correctly. As long as the engine codes match, the gearbox type can be disregarded for this part. That said, always confirm the full engine code with the breaker to rule out any other specification differences.